News

Police beat teenagers

By Chris Latham PERTH — Police are trying to defuse community concern following television news footage of the Tactical Response Group (TRG) kicking and beating people at a birthday party on May 10. The party, attended by 150 people, was raided

WA prisons in crisis

By Sean Martin-Iverson PERTH — WA's prison system is in crisis. There have already been 10 deaths in custody since the beginning of the year. In 1997, 12 died. Deaths are likely to continue to rise as overcrowding intensifies and funding is

Construction workers to rally

Construction workers to rally By Michael Bull The construction unions are aiming at the Howard government's latest anti-worker attacks with a national stoppage on May 20. The government and building employers are attempting to reduce the

MUA struggle continues

MUA struggle continues By Bill Mason BRISBANE — Tensions on and off the waterfront continue to simmer here as the Maritime Union of Australia prepares for the next round of its confrontation with the federal government and Patrick. On May 15,

Setback for tax office management

Setback for tax office management By Ben Courtice The agreement accepted by executive level two staff in the Australian Taxation Office will not be certified by the Industrial Relations Commission because management made corrections to the

Campaign to oppose library closure

By Kathy Pinkusand Kamala Emanuel HOBART — The Tasmanian University administration has announced plans to "amalgamate" two libraries on the Sandy Bay campus during mid-semester break. The Biomed Library will be closed and materials transferred to

Protesters condemn Turkish government

Protesters condemn Turkish government By Arty Titiz MELBOURNE — On May 14, some 100 Kurdish and Turkish people protested against the attempted assassination in Turkey of the Human Rights Association president, Akin Birdal. The attempt on

An election budget in Queensland

An election budget in Queensland By Bill Mason BRISBANE — “Queensland treasurer Joan Sheldon's budget is a confidence trick aimed at winning votes, while doing nothing for working people”, Democratic Socialist candidates in the state

Labor-Democrats debate a non-event

Labor-Democrats debate a non-event By Ruth Ratcliffe BRISBANE — On May 5, the University of Queensland ALP and Australian Democrats clubs presented a debate about "Labour, Unionism and Change: Perspectives on Industrial Relations Reform —

Liberals waver on One Nation preferences

By Bill Mason BRISBANE — Under intense criticism, including from within its own ranks, the Queensland Liberal Party has hesitated over its plan to allocate preferences to Pauline Hanson's racist One Nation party ahead of the ALP. On May 8, the

Battle to save Kimberley Fitzroy River

Battle to save Kimberley Fitzroy River On April 30, the WA government tabled a memorandum of understanding between the government and Western Agricultural Industries (WAI) regarding a large-scale irrigation scheme in the west Kimberley region.

100,000 rally against Workplace Relations Act

By Ben Reid and Michael Walker MELBOURNE — More than 100,000 people rallied against the Howard government's Workplace Relations Act (WRA) and attack on the maritime workers here on May 6. The rally was part of a day of action adopted by